Blind



Feb. 19, 1946.

E. T. BROWN BLINDS Filed Oct. 27, 1943 WIIIIIIIIIIII "I 1 0 2 Y E 5 W m mm Fm f 1% Patented Feb. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,395,096 BLIND Eugene T. Brown, Washington, Mo.

Application October 27, 1943, Serial No. 507,789

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-113) This invention relates to blinds for windows or the like and in particular to those of the type interference with the flow of air through the blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blind having slats so shaped that vision through the opening may be stopped while light is permitted to show through, and between, the slats. Another object of the invention is to provide a blind of the character described which is simple and economical to manufacture, the same being readily adaptable to the use of continuous extruded materials, such as plastics.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the accompanying drawing and the following brief description thereof.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a Venetian blind embodying the features of the invention in a window opening.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, partly broken away, taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1 and illustrating pairs of mating elements adjusted to one closed position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the pairs of slats of the blind.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a typical slat element showing one type of hinge construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section showing the mating slat elements adjusted to another closed position of the blind oppositely of the closed position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar fragmentary, vertical crosssection showing the mating slat elements adjusted to a fully open position of the blind.v

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary cross-section showing one of the slat elements in a horizontal, or fully open, position, while the other slat element is in a partly closed position.

Fig. 8 is a similar vertical cross-section showing mating slat elements adjusted to be in the same plane, angularly of the horizontal.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral I6 designates a window frame in which is mounted a blind l5 of the type embodying the invention. The blind I5 comprises a plurality of vertically spaced slat'units I5a, I5a extending transversely of the window, and vertically shiftable relatively of each-other, by means to be described, to raise and lower the blind in the usual manner of Venetian blinds.

Each slat unit l.5a may comprise a pair of flat strips I and 2, hingedly connected by means of a pin 3 extending longitudinally through mating tongue and slot portions 1, I in the strips (see Figures 3 3.1'1d 4)', in the manner of piano hinges. The slat units maybe supported in spaced relation, in the lowered position of the blind, by

b means of cords I2,. [2, suspended from eyelets 14 at the top of frame [6 and loosely extending through eyelets 4, 4 at the ends of hinge pins 3, the upper end of the cords extending to conventional guide and fastening means, and the normal spaced relation of the slats being maintainedrby the eyelets 4 engaging on top of members l9, I9 secured in spaced relation on the cords. I2. The cords l2 may have the lower ends thereof secured to an anchoring or base slat I0 of suitable weight to hold the cords in taut condition. Thus the cords I2 provide means for raising and lowering the blinds.

In accordance with the present invention, the pairs of slat elements I and 2 are angularly adjustable relatively of each other. For this purpose, there may be provided flexible elements 5, 5, of fabric tape, cord, or plastic strips, which are adhered to the edges of the slat elements I so as to maintain the same in parallelism, as shown in Figures 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the upper ends of flexible elements 5 being extended, through guides 9, 9 in frame It, downwardly to eyelets 9a, 9a in the bottom of the frame. The flexible elements 5 are adjustably anchored to eyelets So, as by means of friction clamps ll, whereby the elements 5 are operable to adjust slat elements I to various positions in parallelism. Flexible elements 6, 6 of the same material as elements 5 are similarly adhered to the edges of the slat elements 2 and arranged to adjust the same in parallelism, which adjustment may be independently of adjustment of slat elements I. The slat units I512 may, if desired, be made of plastic materials, and the mating slat elements I and 2 of each unit may be of different kinds or types of material. For example, the slat elements I and 2 may be of transparent, and translucent material respectively, whereby both the kind or quality of light and the amount of light may be regulated according to individual requirements.

In the use or operation of the blind described above, the slat elements I and 2 may be separately adjusted, by means of the flexible elements 5 and 6, so that all light entering the window will pass through fully closed transparent slat elements I, as shown in Figure 2, or adjusted so that little or no light will enter, by closing the translucent slat elements 2, as shown in Figure 5. Thus translucent r opaque slat elements would make possible the use of the blind as a blackout curtain. Various kinds of light, varying between these extremes, are \obtainableinithe 'smanner previously :described.

It will be readily seen that the slat elements I and 2 may be of different transparent colors to obtain difierent combinations of pleasing efiects. Also, the blind is adapted for use as a heat insu-' lating device for windows, as, by 10105111210113. 561; of transparent slat elements, the latter, if desired, being colorless so asto permitfullpassage of light and maximum vision.

Modifications of the invention maybe resorted to without departingfrom thespiiiit thereof -'or {the scope oi. the appended What is claimed is.

1. -A"Venetian or "like blind comprising a. plurality of spaced 'sla t units,"-means for supporting said slat units in vertically spaced relation and operable to adjust-the units from and toward eac'h-otherto raise and lower the blind, said slat "units each comprising a pair "of mating strips hinged-together to swing relatively of each other about an axis longitudinally of "the unit, and flexible adjusting elements connected'to said 'slat elements and -operab"le for swinging 'the same about said-axis in two series in parallelism, said adjusting elements-oi eaoh' series beirrg separately operable to adjust the series of slat elements in various combinations ofang-les of the mating slat elements about the axesof the slat units.

Venetian or like blind comprising a plurality of spaced slat uni'ts, means for supporting "said s'la't units in vertically spaced relation, said "slat *each comprising a pair of matings'trips hinged together to swing relatively of each other about an axis longitudinally of the unit, and flexible adjusting elements connected to said slat elements and operable for moving the same in two series in parallelism, said adjusting elements of each series being separately operable to adjust the series of slat elements in various combinations of angles of the mating slat elements about the axes of the slat units, said slat elements of mine series :having diiferent light-transmitting rcharacteristi'cs than the slat..elem'ents of the other series, whereby said slat elements are operable in various combinations to vary light passing through the slat elements as well as between the same.

3. :In a Venetian or like blind, a plurality of slat units each comprising a lurality of relatively movable slatelements, and means connecting the slatelements of said units in separate series and operable at will for moving the slat elements of one series relatively of the slat elements of an- -other series, the material oi" said s'lat elements of one series having different light transmitting characteristics than the material of the other series.

4. "Venetian or like blind comprising 'a pinrality of spaced slat units, means for supporting said units in spaced relation 'and operable to adjust the units from and toward each other to raise "and lower th'e blind, said "slat units comprising mating str'ip's hinged together to swing relatively of each other about an axis longitudinally of the unit, and means for relatively adjusting said slat elements about said axis in separate series, said slat-elements of one series having difierent light-transmitting characteristics than the slats of the other series, whereby said slat elements are operable in various combinations to vary light passage through the slat elements as well as between the same.

EUGENE "1'. BROWN. 

